Chapter 118 Trap_1
To be prepared is to be in a position to act; to be unprepared is to invite failure.
Since entering Big Black Mountain was the plan, ample preparation was necessary.
The environment within Big Black Mountain was treacherous, with poison everywhere, miasma spreading, and Monster Beasts lurking.
Monster Beasts did not reason with you; they typically saw humans as food to be eaten, and even those that did not eat people killed them just the same, leaving Cultivators disemboweled before moving on.
Mo Hua grew up in Tongxian City, and his father was a Monster Hunter. From a young age, he was steeped in knowledge of the dangers of Big Black Mountain.
Entering the mountain rashly could mean losing one’s life in an instant, likely leaving no trace behind.
Therefore, if one were to enter the mountain, every aspect had to be fully considered in advance. One needed a plan to avoid being caught off guard by danger and teetering on the brink of life and death.
“After all, my parents have only me as their son,” Mo Hua silently thought to himself.
One day, Liu Ruhua brought some beef and vegetables to Jiang Yun, asking her to take them back and cook them for her child.
Jiang Yun demurred, saying she couldn’t carry so much.
The storage bags used by Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm were fairly cheap and had limited space, indeed not allowing for much to be carried.
“Aunt Jiang, I’ll help you carry them back,” Mo Hua volunteered confidently.
“How could I let you do that?”
“It’s fine, I was about to go see Uncle Chu anyway.”
“Really?” Jiang Yun asked doubtfully.
“Mhm,” Mo Hua nodded.
Jiang Yun, no longer objecting, carried the storage bag and led the way, while Mo Hua followed behind her, holding two big cabbages in his arms.
Along the way, Jiang Yun would occasionally look back and check on Mo Hua, advising him to be careful and asking if he was tired or needed to rest.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at Jiang Yun’s home.
Jiang Yun’s home was quite simple: two or three rooms with patchy walls and some old and broken tables and chairs.
Fortunately, the kitchen showed signs of regular use, ensuring at least that hunger was not an issue.
Jiang Yun was a little embarrassed, “My home is a bit shabby…”
“It’s okay, Aunt Jiang,” Mo Hua smiled.
The homes of Loose Cultivators in Tongxian City were mostly like this, plain and modest.
Mo Hua’s own family had slightly better circumstances before, but that was because Liu Ruhua was thrifty in her housekeeping, and Mo Shan was good at Monster Hunting and robust in health. Their family hadn’t faced great upheaval, so although they were poor, they managed to get by.
But all of this depended on the absence of misfortune.
The family of a Loose Cultivator, once struck by calamity, could quickly fall into disrepair. Making a living could become a problem, not to mention seeking immortality through Tao Cultivation.
Aunt Jiang’s husband was seriously injured while Monster Hunting. With depleted savings and no income, and with a child crying for food at home, tears were her daily company, yet they solved nothing.
Later, after finding work at a food shop and receiving some Spirit Stones, and with her husband’s condition improving, they were able to supplement their household needs, making life a bit better.
The life of a Loose Cultivator was far more fragile than one could imagine, yet despite this, everyone still strove to live on.
Aunt Jiang’s mother-in-law was soothing the child, and upon seeing Mo Hua, she greeted him warmly.
The child too peeked out, his bright eyes curiously studying Mo Hua.
Mo Hua gave him a small, cloth-made Little Tiger, and the child said in a gratifyingly husky voice, “Thank you, Brother~,” then clung to the Little Tiger, shouting excitedly without letting go.
Mo Hua smiled briefly and then went to find Jiang Yun’s husband, Chu Guangshan.
Chu Guangshan was surprised to see Mo Hua, but upon learning Mo Hua had come to him with a request, he was quite happy.
“Go ahead, tell me what you need. If it’s within my power, consider it done!”
“Uncle Chu, I’d like to learn how traps are used,” Mo Hua asked.
The Little Demon Cat that accompanied Mo Hua in practicing the Water Passing Step had been caught by Chu Guangshan using a trap.
Young Monster Beasts weren’t very strong but were highly alert and sensitive, familiar with the environment’s scents, and usually didn’t fall for the traps set by Cultivators.
Chu Guangshan was able to trap Monster Beasts, even catching them alive, which was quite remarkable.
Part of the reason was that Mo Hua had drawn a Wood Binding Formation on the trap, making it harder for the monster to escape.
However, it also indicated that Chu Guangshan had a lot of experience and insight into setting traps.
There were many Monster Hunters, but not everyone had the patience and attention to study traps.
Chu Guangshan hesitated for a moment.
“If it’s inconvenient, then never mind,” Mo Hua quickly added.
The craft I rely on for a living, asking about it is indeed somewhat abrupt.
Chu Guangshan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said:
“There’s nothing inconvenient about it; I’m happy you asked, but…”
Chu Guangshan paused, then added: